Unregistered, as a new member your first 5 posts will be subject to moderation.
So if your post is submitted successfully, but does not show up immediately, please be patient, as it may take some time for a moderator to approve it.
Please don't double post.

I don't understand how I'm supposed to comfort my partner now that his other relationship ended. I think he resents me for not being, caring, I guess. I care that he's upset, but I say the wrong things, like how the guy is a weird asshole and he can do better. It's fucked up to be telling my partner he can do better? I love him a lot and it hurts to see him in pain like this. He stays in bed, and cries a lot, I try to get him to come hang out with friends but he's just quiet and 'gets tired' so he goes home early. He doesn't want to talk to me, but he's been a lot more affectionate and has been apologizing to me for all sorts of things he was really unapologetic about previously.

It's been a week and a half. The guy is still calling him sometimes, which just makes him worse, because he gets hopeful but then the guy backs out on him again saying he can't do it. I feel like this might be some kind of plot on the other guy's part, to try and manipulate him in to breaking up with me, or else he's really just a stupid jerk.

Am I allowed to step in, as far as talking to the other guy, and telling him to stop calling? I almost think my partner wants me to, because he keeps detailing their conversations to me, he shows me everything that the guy emails to him. I'm really frustrated with this right now.

He probably does not want you to say the other guy is a jerk. Because what does that make HIM? A fool for falling for a jerk? He's not at the stage where he can look at his ex with a realistic eye. His eyes are filled with tears right now.

So... if you are going to be doing the ministry of presence for your partner?

Ask how he feels. Ask if he hurts, and validate that it is NORMAL to feel yucky in break up times like this. Bring things that help him feel yucky better. I don't know what he likes. But Kleenex is usually a good bet. What other things comfort your partner? Cup of tea? Silly movies? You would know.

Make safe emotional space for him to just talk and unload -- that he misses the ex, that he's mad at the ex, that he loves the ex. But be ONLY "Ear." It is not time to be "Ear with feedback" in the early stages.

Affirm YOU are still here for him. You cannot magically wave the yucky away, but you can endure it with him til it passes so he doesn't have to endure alone. Ask how you can best serve him right now -- just be Ear? Tell stories about totally unrelated to help take brain off hook? Where is his need today? This hour? (Knowing he's all over the map and it can change minute to minute even as he weathers his internal storms or emotion.)

Sooner or later he will get to the turning point. And if when he's there he wants to evaluate this relationship and THEN asks to get constructive feedback from you about whether the ex behaved well or not? Then you can give that sort of feedback.